Chapter 143: General Trend (8)

Capital.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Foreign Minister Chen Siguan did not have much favorable impression of the arrogant British minister in front of him.

"Your country's behavior of forcing a warship into the Jakarta Bay without the permission of the Netherlands and sending its marines to land shocked our 'government'. Our country is very concerned about this unpleasant incident. On behalf of my country

'Government', I would like to ask you about your country's next course of action."

"Mr. Minister, you need to know that the atrocities that occurred in Jakarta are really horrifying, and there is a lot of evidence that shows that this atrocities were completely organized and planned against the Chinese and overseas Chinese."

German flavor.

Minister Sa Daoyi frowned: "As far as I know, the perpetrators of this atrocity were all barbaric indigenous people. The Jakarta authorities immediately mobilized the military and police to suppress the incident. Such barbaric and cruel behavior is completely inconsistent with ours."

The European civilized world is completely incompatible. I hope your country can treat this incident with a rational attitude. I believe the Netherlands will severely punish the murderer and give your country an explanation."

"Even such a large-scale indigenous uprising cannot be stopped immediately. The basis for the Dutch rule of East India is too weak. If it is really impossible to effectively manage those barbarians, it would be better to have a truly powerful and more civilized country

Come and do it for me.”

Sa Daoyi's face became serious: "Can I understand that your country is trying to take this opportunity to seize the Dutch East Indies?"

"The imperial 'government' hopes to do its utmost to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of its own citizens." Chen Siguang said expressionlessly.

"I hope that your country can maintain restraint and push the already stable situation in the Far East towards peace as soon as possible. This is what our country has long hoped for and will take corresponding actions to achieve it."

Chen Siguan could not fail to hear the threats concealed in diplomatic rhetoric.

"Promoting peace in East Asia is also our country's wish, but the Netherlands must reflect on it, severely punish the perpetrators and officials who did not act, compensate the victims for all losses, and have the 'government' publicly apologize to our country and the victims, and ensure that it improves its treatment of the Chinese and overseas Chinese.

policies and ensure that similar incidents will not happen again."

"The Netherlands is a member of the European civilized world, and the civilized world has the standards of a civilized world. I believe that your country and the Netherlands will be able to properly handle this incident."

"Thank you very much for your concern. Since your country and the Netherlands both belong to the so-called European civilized world, I would also like to ask your country to persuade the Netherlands to wake up as soon as possible. I believe that with the alliance between China and the United Kingdom, we will definitely be able to cooperate in safeguarding the peace and stability in East Asia.

Peace and stability." Chen Siguan deliberately used the word "East Asia" with full force.

Only then did Sa Daoyi become slightly satisfied.

"East Asia", not "Asia", is the crux of the matter.

After seeing off the British minister, Chen Siguan asked for a phone call at the Prime Minister's residence.

November 7, Jakarta Bay.

If the toy-like boats and dinghies can be completely ignored, there are actually only 4 warships in the bay.

Moored on the east side of the bay are the Chinese Imperial Navy cruisers "Dongyu" and "Songyu". Moored on the west side of the bay is the Royal Dutch Navy cruiser "Koen". Sandwiched between the Chinese and Dutch warships is the

British Royal Navy cruiser HMS Manchester.

The "Manchester" arrived that morning, and the "Cohen" arrived two hours later.

Since a total of 80 Chinese sailors and marines successfully landed on November 5, the refugees who were originally crowded inside and outside the consulate began to gather at Tanjong Priok Pier. Under the escort of sailors and marines, the refugees landed in batches.

Get on the small boat and go to the warship, but the space on the warship is limited after all. After only 48 hours, the two cruisers can no longer accept more refugees. In a blink of an eye, the pier is crowded with people again. Dutch soldiers and natives armed with sticks are standing there.

People were walking around the pier, and the atmosphere was anything but relaxing.

Colonel Liao Shengzhen, commander of the First Task Force, and Ye Hua, the imperial consul in Jakarta, were huddled among the refugees, and their emotions were spiraling in the center of the black hole.

Liao Shengzhen looked at the flies or crows whirling around the pier and kept clenching his fists.

"These guys just want to drive away all the Chinese in Jakarta!"

"Drive the people away and loot the property." Ye Hua added.

In Jakarta in November, there is no snow, only abundant tropical sunshine that can burn the skin.

Liao Shengzhen covered the sun with the back of his hand and looked anxiously outside the bay. Apart from the masts of warships in the bay, there were seabirds flying around without knowing what was happening.

"Damn, it's been two days, and there's not a single ship willing to help, and they don't even want to pay. What a piece of rubbish! What's going on, the second team is still missing..."

"Wait a little longer. Maybe it's a boiler failure. Didn't your ship burst with more than a dozen pipes?"

"It's not just a pipe explosion. The coal is almost running out. The Dutch have hidden all the coal and are deliberately tormenting us. We can only wait until our own coal ship arrives before we can lift anchor and return home. Have the injured been accommodated? There will be no problem, right?"

?”

"Most of them are placed in missionary hospitals in the United Kingdom and the United States. No matter how ignorant the Dutch are, they have not yet dared to provoke the United Kingdom and the United States."

Liao Shengzhen said angrily: "Huh, you don't dare to provoke Britain and the United States, but you dare to provoke my country?"

Ye Hua muttered while changing the bandage on a little boy's head: "Now is not the time to say such things..."

"Forget about starting a war. I really want to generate electricity for the people above, demand a war against the Netherlands, and occupy the entire Dutch East Indies. Let's see who dares to bully our compatriots."

"The superiors will not allow a war to begin. Now is not the time to start a war."

"How do you know?"

"Have you forgotten what happened in Chita? Now is the time when Britain, France and the United States are suspicious of our country. Any excessive behavior will cause the situation to further deteriorate. Our country is far from being an opponent of Britain, France and the United States. What we need to do most now is to hide our capabilities and bide our time to avoid conflicts with the three countries.

The great powers clash head-on and digest the results of this war."

"Now is a great time to annex this island!"

"Now is not the time to fall out with the Three Powers... Don't think about falling out with the Three Powers for at least ten years. Even if France can give up its Annan territory, Britain and the United States will never allow our country to dominate the Western Pacific. This is an irresolvable contradiction. We have to wait until

Only when we have the strength to confront Britain and the United States at sea can we try to seize this dangerous hegemony. The number of chimneys and wealth of Britain and the United States are far beyond what I alone can compete with..."

Liao Shengzhen chuckled: "As long as we form an alliance with Germany, won't all problems be solved? With Germany containing Britain and France in Europe, our country only needs to use part of its army to contain Country E, and the main force of sea and land can go south, which is enough to occupy all of Southeast Asia."

"The problem is that Germany's attitude is unclear now. Germany has also joined the European banking group to assist country e. The decision to form an alliance must be made only after it is certain that a war between Germany and Britain and France is inevitable."

"Leave this kind of problem to the big shots. Look, there is a mast coming out over there..."

Liao Shengzhen excitedly raised the telescope on his chest and quickly locked on the target.

"How is it? Is it our ship?" Ye Hua was extremely nervous.

After a long time, Liao Shengzhen nodded slightly.

"What kind of ship is it? Please tell me clearly!"

"The second detachment has arrived. If the telegram is not a lie, there are three cruisers in total, one of which is the 'Baiyun' equipped with a 305mm heavy gun. I have to go back to the ship. I can't be there.

I’m going to meet His Excellency the General on this noisy pier.”

After a routine shower in the afternoon, the Second Nanyang Task Force of the Chinese Imperial Navy sailed into Jakarta Bay. Commander Yuan Feng brought three warships that frightened the Dutch: a standard displacement of 10,500 tons, equipped with 4 doors.

The 305-mm main gun "Baiyun" armored cruiser, with a displacement of 4,750 tons, the "Modao" protected cruiser with a displacement of 4 210-mm main guns, and the 4,310-ton "Fengjian" with a displacement of 4 150-mm main guns.

The protected cruiser, the officers and soldiers of the three ships and the marines totaled more than 1,450 people.

As soon as this powerful maritime force entered the bay, it immediately aroused different reactions from the people on the shore. The refugees gathered at the pier were filled with tears. Many people also sang the imperial national anthem "Golden Ou Que" and the Imperial Navy military song "Ten Thousand Miles of Waves".

In the same tune, the local hooligans who had gathered around the pier and were ready to make a move fled one after another. The Dutch soldiers guarding the pier saw that the situation was not good, and after some officers took the lead in fleeing, most of them dispersed like birds and beasts.

Although the coastal fort defending Jakarta Bay aimed its cannons at the Chinese ships sailing into the bay, they still did not receive the order to fire. However, the officers and soldiers guarding the fort knew that although some of their old-fashioned front-loading coastal artillery had a caliber of

13.5 inches (343 mm), but it is unable to penetrate the steel armor of new protected cruisers and armored cruisers. Armstrong and Krupp do have a few rapid-fire cannons, but the number is too small to be difficult to

Against the five Chinese warships with powerful guns and armor in the bay.

After all, nearly two hundred years have passed since the Golden Century of the Netherlands. The reason why this rich colonial legacy in the East Indies can be preserved to this day is not because of the strong national and military power of the Netherlands, but entirely because of the international situation.

Fortunately, the Netherlands, which had gone through many vicissitudes in various European wars in the 18th and 19th centuries and finally stood on the right side, has actually become a small follower of the United Kingdom. Under the protection of the British Empire, it carefully guards its land that connects Asia and the world.

The vast territory of Oceania.

The essence of the attempt to get involved in the Dutch East Indies was an attempt to do harm to the British Empire. Therefore, when the Japanese warships suddenly sailed into the Bay of Jakarta, the first ones to follow were actually British warships.

Brigadier General Yuan Feng's mission is to intimidate, not provoke war.

"Get all the refugees on board. Two coal ships and one passenger ship will arrive tomorrow. After replenishing the coal, transport all the refugees back to the country. The mission is over."

"What! It's over like this!" Liao Shengzhen shouted dissatisfied.

"I understand your feelings. If possible, I would also like to destroy this city where only animals are left. However, it is the duty of soldiers to obey orders. I hope you will abide by your duty and complete the mission successfully." The brigadier general looked at Lin Li in the distance.

The tall palm trees and coconut trees in downtown Jakarta make me want to talk no more.

"But..." Liao Shengzhen was still unconvinced.

"Stop making trouble. Either wait ten years and maybe have a chance to get revenge, or retire now and do whatever you need to do when you go home."

Liao Sheng was really speechless.

Hot sea breeze and noisy Jakarta.
Chapter completed!